Major Airline Ramps Up Baggage Fees: Peak Travel Times to Face Surge

Clear Facts

• JetBlue Airways is increasing its fees for checked bags during peak travel times to boost profitability.
• The New York-based carrier will charge an extra $5 for the first checked bag and an additional $10 for the second bag during high-traffic periods.
• The increase applies to all flights within the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America during periods such as Presidents Week, Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, as well as the peak spring and summer travel season.

JetBlue Airways has introduced an additional charge for checked bags on high-traffic travel days as part of a strategy to enhance their profitability margins. The carrier will now charge an extra $5 for the first checked bag, and an additional $10 for the second bag during busy periods.

Passengers opting for specific JetBlue fare options such as Blue Basic, Blue and Blue Extra can expect a raised price of $45 to check in their first bag within 24 hours of departure. The cost for a second checked bag within this timeframe has been increased as well, potentially amounting to a total of $50. These figures do not include the additional peak time charges.

This price hike is applicable to all flights within the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America during specific high-traffic periods, including Presidents Week, Thanksgiving, winter holidays, and peak spring and summer travel seasons.

The company had previously increased checked luggage fees in February. According to the CEO Joanna Geraghty, this was part of an “aggressive action” to return to profitability, which included the launch of $300 million revenue initiatives.

On Wednesday, JetBlue pointed out that the “cost of transporting bags has gone up significantly due to increased wages and higher fuel costs.” The company also added that it hasn’t experienced profitability since before the pandemic hit. In a statement, JetBlue communicated that while they don’t favor raising fees, these adjustments are deemed necessary to help the company return to profitability and cover the increased costs.

The airline believes that by increasing fees for services that only certain customers use during high demand times, it can maintain base fares as low as possible and ensure popular amenities like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone. Customers who purchased flights before March 22 have been exempted from the peak pricing charges.

To encourage customers to pre-pay for bags at least a day before their flight, JetBlue is offering a saving of up to $10 on their first and second bag. It’s worth noting that other major airlines, such as American, United, and Alaska airlines, have also recently increased their baggage fees.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source